Thursday, August 02, 2012

Whale Unveil: Legacy of the Clockwork Key by Kristin Bailey

When a fire consumes Meg's home, killing her parents and destroying both her fortune and her future, all she has left is the tarnished pocket watch she rescued from the ashes. But this is no ordinary timepiece. The clock turns out to be a mechanical key-a key only Meg can use- that unlocks a series of deadly secrets and intricate clues that Meg has no choice but to follow. She has uncovered evidence of an elite secret society and a dangerous invention that some will stop at nothing to protect, and that Meg alone can destroy. Together with the handsome stable hand she barely knows but hopes she can trust, Meg will be swept into a hidden world of deception, betrayal, and revenge. The clockwork key has unlocked her destiny.

"Beautiful Cover"

Kristin Bailey

Author behind "Legacy of the Clockwork Key"

Interview:

1. Three interesting facts about me:

I am a certified "Balloonologist" which basically means I can make almost anything out of twisty balloons. My favorite balloon animal to twist is a lobster. It's adorable, but you may have to trust me on that one.

I have seen more than my fair share of really cheesy retro action movies due to the influence of my two brothers. I have a particular soft spot in my heart for Commando with Arnold Schwarzenegger, Remo Williams, the Adventure Begins, and Big Trouble in Little China.

And I used to volunteer at a rehabilitation center for injured birds of prey. It was one of the coolest things I've ever done. I learned falconry, and had the chance to hold a golden eagle in my arms.

2: If you had to choose, which writer would you consider a mentor?

When I started writing, I cut my teeth writing a blend of Science Fiction and Romance. As I started out Linnea Sinclair was a huge help and inspiration to me. We are still good friends, and she taught me a lot about working with Science Fiction in the context of my other story elements, and keeping my science grounded in believability.

3. Tell us a little something about the book?

LEGACY OF THE CLOCKWORK KEY is the story of Meg Whitlock, a clockmaker's daughter in Victorian London who finds herself working as a housemaid in the dour home of a mysterious baron who insists everything within the house remain exactly as it had been the day before. The only thing she has left of her family is an old pocket watch that she carries on a chain around her neck. Determined to repair the watch and return it to it's former beauty, she enlists the help of the stablehand, a boy with a bitter past and unsavory heritage.

Together they discover the watch isn't a watch at all. It's a key that leads Meg to clues that reveal the truth about an underground society of inventors and the deadly secrets that they keep.

4. What inspired you to write The Legacy of the Clockwork Key?

LEGACY OF THE CLOCKWORK KEY was inspired by a picture that I saw on a blog that was doing a feature on Steampunk. It was of a raven with wheels for feet and it had gears in its chest. The raven intrigued me, and I started to pay more attention to the Steampunk subculture. I wondered "Who would invent something like this?" and a book was born. I'm very inspired by the spirit of invention, and I wanted to write an adventure story that sweeps you away into into a world of danger and mystery but still feels like it could be real and exist in our world. I had more fun writing this story than I can even say, and I can't wait to share it.

5. Favorite dessert?

My favorite dessert is pumpkin pie with fresh, hand-whipped cream. I love it. I love it so much I'll eat it in pretty much any form, including pumpkin ice-cream and pumpkin cheesecake. There's nothing better than that.